OBSERVED: At approximately 10 am my hiking partner and myself had packed up our camp after a chilly nights stay at Lindeman Lake in the Chilliwack River Valley. We had hiked about 15 minutes from our camp, down the main trail (headed back to the parking lot). I was about 40 feet infront of my partner and started hearing banging noises coming from the trees to the North of us. I stopped and listened. As my partner caught up to me I asked if he had heard the noises as well. He stated that he thought they were from me. I said no and we both stopped and listened as the banging sounds continued. We heard "tap, tap, tap" It sounded like two rocks banging together -- definitely not wood or a woodpecker, as this obviously crossed my mind. He said it definitely is stones.

The sounds came from about 70-100 feet from us in the trees and were relatively timed out as it takes a certain amount of time to make strikes. (I tested this much farther down the trail). As the banging continued I realized they were coming from two differant locations and sounded about 70 feet apart.

My partner and I are both certified Search and Rescue Technicians and thought it might be a distress call of sorts. I listened closely for a pattern and noticed that no more than six taps went in sequence until the last set. The taps seemed to go back and forth between the two locations. My partner picked up a rock and struck a larger stone with it four times. Immediately we heard seven quick taps and then silence. We briskly continued on the trail toward our destination and stopped a few times soon after but the tapping had stopped altogether.

ALSO NOTICED: Very methodical noises, definately sounded as though two parties communicating.

OTHER WITNESSES: My hiking partner also heard noises as we hiked.

OTHER STORIES: No

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Approx. 10:00 AM

ENVIRONMENT: Thick tree canopy, no underbrush or shrubs. Very rocky with very limited visibility. Also high altitude.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Blaine McMillan :

As mentioned in his report, he and his partner had camped out for one night near a lake in the Chilliwack River Valley. The following morning after breaking camp the heard a series of banging noises that he described as rocks being knocked together. After a short period of time the tapping was answered by similar stone tapping from a second location. The noise was rhythmic or patterned and was coming from an unseen source less than 100 feet on either side of them.

The witness feels strongly that the sounds were a form of communication because his hiking partner had recieved a reply after he had banged two rocks together. After the reply they both quickly departed the area without further incidents.

The witness said he is familiar with the area and he plans on visiting it again to look around more.